Los Angeles Federal Money Laundering Lawyer

Are you under investigation or facing federal money laundering charges in Los Angeles, California? In addition to imprisonment, these cases often come with the seizure of homes, bank accounts, vehicles, and businesses. A Los Angeles federal money laundering lawyer at Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers can help protect your rights. Contact us at (747) 373-0477 for a free consultation.

We have handled financial crimes charges for decades. We know what’s at stake and how to pursue a favorable outcome that protects your future and your property. 

Why Choose Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers for Your Money Laundering Case?

Federal money laundering cases involve complex financial evidence and the possibility of losing accessing your property before you're ever convicted of anything. You need a defense team built specifically for this kind of fight; one like Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers. 

Clients throughout Los Angeles, CA, choose our team because:

• Our attorneys have 25+ years of experience defending clients of financial crimes charges
• We understand how the Federal Sentencing Guidelines treats money laundering and how to present persuasive mitigation arguments
• We have a track record of handling multi-defendant financial crime indictments
• We can challenge asset seizures and forfeiture actions
• We've been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers, Justia, and other top organizations
• We have handled thousands of criminal cases, earning a strong reputation among former clients and consistently high marks from reviewers on Google, Avvo, and Yelp.
• Our firm represents clients in both California state courts and federal courts nationwide.

Our founding attorney previously served as a prosecutor for the Maryland State's Attorney's Office in Montgomery County. That experience taught him how prosecutors build their cases and negotiate toward resolution, insight he now uses directly to his clients' advantage

Contact us today to schedule a confidential case review with a Los Angeles federal criminal defense attorney.

What Is Federal Money Laundering?

Federal law criminalizes money laundering under two primary statutes. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1956, it's illegal to conduct a financial transaction involving proceeds from an underlying illegal activity ("specified unlawful activity”) with the intent to promote that activity, conceal its source, or avoid federal reporting requirements.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 1957, it's illegal to engage in a monetary transaction of more than $10,000 involving property known to be derived from criminal activity, even without proof of intent to conceal.

Prosecutors don't need to prove you personally committed the underlying crime that generated the money; they only need to show you knew the funds were connected to illegal activity and that you transacted with that money unlawfully. 

Someone with only tangential involvement in an underlying scheme, such as an employee handling routine transactions or a family member managing a joint account, can still face serious federal charges if the government believes they knew where the money came from.

Federal Money Laundering Offenses We Defend

Money laundering charges in Los Angeles frequently arise alongside other federal investigations, including:

• Drug trafficking proceeds moved through bank accounts or shell companies
• Wire and mail fraud schemes involving layered financial transactions
• Healthcare fraud proceeds funneled through billing companies or shell entities
• Structuring transactions to avoid currency transaction reporting requirements
• Cryptocurrency transactions used to obscure the source of illicit funds
• International wire transfers connected to an underlying federal offense

Money laundering charges are often added on top of an underlying offense. Therefore, defending against them requires understanding the money laundering statute itself and the predicate crime prosecutors allege generated the funds.

Penalties for Federal Money Laundering Convictions

A conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 can carry up to 20 years in federal prison per count, along with a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction (whichever is greater). A conviction under the related § 1957 statute carries up to 10 years in prison.

Structuring transactions to evade currency reporting requirements (prosecuted under 31 U.S.C. § 5324) can carry up to five years in prison or up to 10 years if the structuring was part of a pattern of illegal activity.

As mentioned above, money laundering counts are frequently charged alongside an underlying offense. Accordingly, a conviction on multiple counts can result in sentences that run consecutively, which can dramatically increase your total time in federal prison beyond what any single charge would carry. 

Asset Forfeiture in Money Laundering Cases

One of the most significant consequences of a federal money laundering charge is asset forfeiture. Forfeiture allows the government to seize property it claims is connected to the alleged offense.

Criminal Forfeiture

Under 18 U.S.C. § 982, a conviction for money laundering can result in the forfeiture of any property involved in the offense. This can include cash, real estate, vehicles, business interests, and financial accounts, among other things. 

Criminal forfeiture generally requires the government to prove that specific property is connected to the offense, and a defendant typically has the right to a jury determination on forfeiture issues.

Civil Forfeiture

The government can pursue civil forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981, which doesn't require a criminal conviction at all. Civil forfeiture is a case against the property itself, and the government only needs to meet a preponderance of the evidence standard to win its case, a lower bar than the reasonable doubt standard required for a criminal conviction.

Pretrial Asset Freezes

Prosecutors can also seek a pretrial restraining order freezing assets before trial by arguing the funds are traceable to the alleged offense. This can leave defendants without access to funds that might otherwise be used to pay for their legal defense, sometimes forcing reliance on court-appointed counsel.

Courts have recognized limited rights to challenge these freezes, particularly where a defendant needs the funds to retain counsel of their choice.

The Innocent Owner Defense

Individuals with a legitimate ownership interest in seized property who weren't involved in the alleged criminal activity may be able to assert an innocent owner defense to recover their property, even when a co-owner or relative faces criminal charges.

Forfeiture proceedings often move on a separate track from the criminal case itself;  fighting these proceedings requires a distinct strategy from your criminal defense.

Defenses to Federal Money Laundering Charges

Federal money laundering charges can be challenged in several ways. The defenses available will depend on the allegations, the evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the financial transactions.

Potential defenses may include:

• Lack of knowledge: The government generally must establish the required knowledge concerning the funds and unlawful activity. Evidence that you were unaware of the criminal connection may undermine the charge.
• No underlying illegal activity: Money laundering charges depend on proceeds connected to specified unlawful activity. If prosecutors cannot establish the required connection to unlawful activity, they may be unable to prove the charge.
• Legitimate source of funds: Evidence showing that the money came from a lawful source, such as legitimate business income or a documented loan, may contradict the government's allegations.
• Fourth Amendment violations: Evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure may be subject to suppression, potentially limiting what prosecutors can use against you.

The government must prove each element of the charged money laundering offense beyond a reasonable doubt. A Los Angeles federal criminal defense lawyer can examine the financial records, the alleged source of the funds, and the government's investigation to determine which defenses may apply.

How a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You

Defending a federal money laundering case requires a sophisticated defense strategy that protects your rights during the criminal case and fights to defend your property from seizure actions. 

Your attorney can: 

• Conduct an independent review of the financial records and evidence the government intends to rely on
• Challenge the government's ability to trace specific funds to an alleged underlying offense, particularly in cases involving commingled accounts
• Move quickly to contest pretrial asset freezes and restraining orders, including fighting for access to funds needed to retain counsel of your choice
• Identify whether an innocent owner defense applies to property connected to a co-owner, spouse, or family member
• Negotiate directly with federal prosecutors when a favorable resolution is possible
• Scrutinize the government's forfeiture filings for procedural errors or overreach that could limit what property is ultimately subject to seizure

Having an attorney who understands the criminal and forfeiture processes can be your greatest asset in a money laundering case. 

Contact a Los Angeles Federal Money Laundering Attorney Today

Money laundering charges can be beaten. Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers is ready to fight for you against the underlying criminal charges while working to protect the assets connected to your case in Los Angeles, CA. 

You don't have to face federal prosecutors and asset forfeiture proceedings without experienced representation in your corner. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Los Angeles federal money laundering attorney to get started.